Drink beer too quickly? Opt for straight glasses, not curved

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If you find yourself finishing off pints long before your friends are ready for the next round, perhaps you should ask the person behind the bar for a straight glass.

Researchers from Bristol University's Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group found that the shape of a glass can affect the speed at which we drink – and that straight glasses cause people to drink more slowly than curved ones.

Lead researcher Dr Angela Attwood and PhD student David Troy asked a group of 160 people to attend two sessions at local pubs, giving some participants a lager in a curved glass and others beer in a straight-sided glass. Those who had the straight glasses were 60 per cent slower to consume alcoholic beverages than those drinking from curved glasses.

In another experiment, one group of subjects were given beer in a curved glass which had markings on the side, showing measurements of a quarter, half and three quarters. The other participants also had curved glasses, but with no markings.

The results showed that the markings slowed the speed at which people drank. The group with the marked glasses took an average of 10.3 minutes to finish their pints, while the non-marked glass group took 9.1 minutes.

Curved glasses are popular, but they could make you drink fasterCredit:
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Dr Angela Attwood said: “The speed at which beer is drunk can have a direct effect on the level of intoxication experienced. This can also increase how much is consumed in a single drinking session. While many people drink alcohol responsibly, it is not difficult to have 'one too many' and become intoxicated.

“Our research suggests that small changes such as glass shape and volume markings can help individuals make more accurate judgements of the volume they are drinking and hopefully drinkers will use this information to drink at a slower pace.”

The pair presented their research today at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference in Liverpool.